About Mikhail Smirnov:Mikhail Smirnov was born in Moscow, Russia in 1966. He has been in the business of Russian folk dance and music for more than 25 years. Mikhail is an artistic director and founder of ensemble Barynya based in New York City, author of many articles about traditional Russian dance, music and instruments in English and Russian. Mikhail received his Master's degree from the Moscow State University of Culture and Arts. As a child, he was a member of the famous "Moscow Boys Chorus" - one of the most prestigious all-male choirs in Russia. Before coming to the United States in 1991, Mikhail was a soloist in a several Russian folk dance and music groups including the Moscow State Center for Russian song, "Russkaya Pesnya", under the direction of Nadezhda Babkina. In January 2009 Mikhail Smirnov and dancers of ensemble Barynya were featured on national TV, NBC's "SUPERSTARS OF DANCE" - breathtaking international dance competition led by executive producers Nigel Lythgoe and Simon Fuller (American Idol, So You Think You Can Dance). This prestigious dance competition hosted by Michael Flatley ("Lord of the Dance") and Susie Castillo, a former Miss USA. Mikhail Smirnov was one of eight judges to decide which country will win. The show premiered on NBC network.

About Ilia Pankratov:Ilia Pankratov is a Russian dancer from New York who specializes in character dance as well as ballet. He has graduated with Master's Degree in Choreography from the Moscow State University of Culture and Arts. In Russia Mr. Pankratov has worked for various dance companies. In the United States he was dancing with the best companies including RiverDance (Co-Dance Captain for Russian Folk Ballet), Metropolitan Opera and others. Ilia Pankratov is a master of every difficult and highly acrobatic jump and turn of Russian, Ukrainian and Cossack folk dancing. Traditional dance move that is usually called "KAZATSKY" where the dancer squats down, crosses his arms across his chest and Kicks his legs out is perfected by Ilia. It looks so natural that one can think that Ilia is walking that way into the grocery store in his neighborhood in New York City. Ilia started to perform with Russian folk dance and music ensemble Barynya in 2005. For the first time he performed with Barynya at the private party for Russian Tennis star Maria sharapova B-day in New York City.